Reclining chair of the multiple position type



1965 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,210,119

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE POSITION TYPE Filed May 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5, 1965 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,210,119

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE POSITION TYPE Filed May 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

r02 k \V FIG. 5 6.0% #2 a INVENTOR. /@0 //f FR/DZ/OF 50/4 /P//ACK United States Patent 3,210,119 RECLINIYG CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE PUSITION TYPE Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed May 23, 1962, Ser. No, 196,987 Claims. (Cl. 297322) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application filed June 29, 1960, Serial No. 39,508, now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs of the multiple movement type, and in particular to an improved reclining chair incorporating a movable seat and movable back-rest which are coordinated to each other to establish multiple chair positions.

The recently developed multiple movement chair of the recliner type comprises a support and a body-supporting unit, including a movable seat and a movable back-rest, which is mounted on the support for movement in the first and second movement phase. During the first movement phase, the seat and back-rest move from the sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during which there is substantially no change in the angular relationship between the seat and the back-rest; and during the second movement phase the seat and back-rest move from the intermediate, sitting position through various reclining positions to a fully reclined position, with a progressive increase in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest. Such multiple movement chair of the recliner type usually incorporates a leg-rest which is mounted for movement into a substantially elevated legsupporting position during the first movement phase such as to provide an adequate leg-support for the chair occupant in the intermediate, tilted sitting position and in the infinite number of reclining positions during the second movement phase.

There exists the need for relatively simple and compact mechanisms for achieving the coordinated movement of the seat and back-rest during the first and second movement phases. Also, positive sequencing means should be provided to establish the order or sequence of operations of the mechanisms to assure that the body-supporting means will be properly guided during the first and second movement phases respectively to establish the multiple positions of the chair and the required relationships between the seat and back-rest. Further, the sequencing means for the chair should be of a reliable nature and should be automatically operated when the chair occupant is seated and exerts the necessary actuating force on the body-supporting means of the chair. Still further, the sequencing means should be generally compatible with the more generalized requirements of simplicity and construction and facility for mass production manufacture.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved recliner type of multiple movement chair which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a recliner type of multiple movement chair which provides for respective first and second movement phases for the chair such that the bodysupporting means first moves to an intermediated, tilted sitting position, with substantially no angular change between the seat and back-rest, and then moves through successive reclining positions, with an increase in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved multiple movement chair of the recliner type which incorporates as part of the coordinating mechanisms thereof a sequencing arrangement which establishes Fatented Oct. 5, 1965 the order of operations for such coordinating mechanisms to assure proper chair operation.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention there is provided a reclining chair which comprises a support member and a body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on the support member for motion from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during a first phase of motion and from that intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during a second motion phase. A carrier member is movably mounted on the support and seat guiding means are mounted on the carrier and are operatively connected to the seat. The back-rest is mounted by pivot means on the seat and back-rest guiding means are mounted on either the support member or the carrier member. Connecting means are operatively positioned between the back-rest guiding means and the back-rest. During the first movement phase, the seat guiding means cooperate with the back-rest guiding means for guiding the bodysupporting means from the sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position. Lost motion means are interconnected between the back-rest guiding means and the one of the carrier or support members to which the back-rest guiding means is not connected. The lost motion means are effective to permit movement of the carrer member during the second movement phase to increase the angular relationship between the seat and the back-rest when said reclining chair is moved from its intermediate, tilted sitting position to its fully reclined position.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of one embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, said chair being shown in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the chair in its intermediate, tilted sitting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the chair illustrated in FIG. 1 but showing the chair in its fully reclining position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view with parts broken away of another embodiment of the present invention, said chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the chair illustrated in FIG. 4 showing the chair in its intermediate, tilted sitting position; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing the chair in its fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a reclining chair, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a chair frame or support 12 having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by a number of cross braces 18 and supported on depending legs 20. Body-supporting means including the back-rest 22 and the seat 24 are mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first movement phase from the upright or sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 to an intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 during which there is substantially no angular change between the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 and through a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through a number of reclining positions to the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3 during which there is a progressive increase in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest. As is generally understood, the chair further includes a leg-rest which is mounted for movement from a stored position beneath the seat to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat during the first movement phase and inresponse to movement of the body-supporting means to the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2, with the leg-rest remaining in an elevated leg-supporting position throughout the second movement phase. Since the leg-rest and its mounting and actuating arrangements are subject to a latitude of variation and change in accordance with the teachings of patents assigned to applicants assignee, an illustrative showing of the leg-rest and its mounting and actuating arrangement is dispensed with in the interest of simplicity and clarity.

Extending from front to rear of the chair frame or support 12 is a carrier member 26 which is mounted at its rear end on the support at a carrier pivot 28 provided by a mounting bracket 30 for turning movement in the clockwise direction through an ascending arc. The carrier member 26 normally rests on the underlying cross brace 18 of the chair frame or support 12 and remains stationary throughout the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2, and turns through an ascending arc during a second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. A seat guiding arrangement is operatively connected between the carrier member 26 and the seat 24 for guiding the seat relative to the carrier member during the first movement phase such as to impart a slight rearward tilt or inclination to the seat as the same is moved into the intermediate tilted sitting position of FIG. 2. The seat guiding means includes a front seat guiding link 32 which is forwardly and upwardly inclined from its lower end to its upper end and has a front pivotal mount 34 at its lower end on the carrier member 26 and a front pivotal connection 36 at its upper end to the seat 24. The seat guiding means further includes a rear seat guiding link 38 which is spaced rearwardly of the front seat guiding link 32 and is substantially parallel thereto. The lower end of the rear seat guiding link 38 has a pivotal mount 40 on the carrier member 26 at a location spaced from the front pivotal mount 34 and the upper end has a pivotal connection 42 to the seat 24 at a location spaced rearwardly of the front pivotal connection 36. The seat guiding arrangement will be recognized as including a four-bar linkage wherein the portion of the carrier member 26 intermediate the front and rear pivotal mounts 34, 40 serves as a stationary link thereof throughout the first movement phase and wherein the front seat guiding link 32, the portion of the seat 24 intermediate the front and rear pivotal connections 36, 42, and the rear guiding link 38 serves as the movable links thereof.

Back-rest guiding means are provided to control the angular relationship between the seat 24 and the backrest 22. Specially, disposed forwardly of the front seat guiding link 32 is a back-rest guiding member which is in the form of a link 44 disposed in a forwardly and upwardly inclined attitude and generally parallel to the seat guiding links 32, 38 when the body-supporting means is in the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1. The back-rest guiding link 44, which also serves as part of a sequencing means as will be subsequently described, has a pivotal mount 46 on the support location spaced forwardly of and below the front pivotal mount 34. The pivotal mount 46 is on a mounting bracket or plate 48 fixed to the adjacent side wall of the chair frame or support 12. The back-rest guiding means also includes a connecting link 50 which has a pivotal connection 52 at its forward end to the upper end of the back-rest guiding link 44 and a pivotal connection 54 at its rearward end to the lower end of the back-rest 22 at a point spaced below the back-rest pivot 56 on the seat. As may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2, the front and rear seat guiding links 32, 38 cooperate with the back-rest guiding link 44 during the first movement phase to guide the body-supporting means 22, 24 from the upright or sitting position illustrated in'FIG. 1 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 with substantially no change in the angular relationship between the back-rest 22 and the seat 24.

Provision is made for blocking movement of at least one of the seat guiding links 32, 38 relative to the carrier member 26 in the intermediate, titled sitting position such that the seat 24, the carrier member 26 and the interconnecting links eifectively provide a unitary assembly mounted for pivotal or turning movement about the carrier pivot 28 throughout the second movement phase. In this illustration embodiment the blocking means includes a stop 58 which is on the carrier member 26 at a location rearwardly of the front guiding link 32 and in position to abut the front guiding link 32 when the chair is moved to the intermediate, tilted siting position as shown in FIG. 2.

Sequencing means, generally designated by the reference numeral 60, are interconnected between the back-rest guiding link 44 and the carrier member to hold carrier member 26 stationary, resting on the cross-brace l8, dur-' ing the first movement phase and for permitting turning movement of the back-rest guiding link 44 about its pivotal mount 46 during such first movement phase. Further, the sequencing means or arrangement 60 is effective to permit turning movement of the carrier member 26 about the carrier pivot 28 during the second movement phase and to block turning movement of the back-rest guiding link 44 about its pivotal mount 46 during such second movement phase such that the blocking of the back-rest guiding link 44 and the turning of the carrier member 26 through an ascending arc is effective to increase the angular relationship between the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 during the second movement phase. The sequencing means or arrangement 60 is conveniently provided by forming an integral extension or plate 62 on the forward end of the carrier member 26 at a location forwardly of the adjacent cross-brace 18 which extension 62 is formed with a doublearced slot 64 having a first section 64a merging into a second section 64b at a junction 64c. The doubled-arced slot 64 receives a pin 66 which is fixed to the back-rest guiding link 44 intermediate the ends thereof and is movable from the end of the slot section 64a remote from the junction 64c (see the sitting position of the chair illustrated in FIG. 1) to the junction 640 (see the intermediate, tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 2) and then to the lower end of the second slot section 64b (see the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3). The slot section 6442 is an are or radius about the pivotal mount 46 for the back-rest guiding link 44 which precludes turning movement of the carrier member about the carrier pivot 28 and permits turning movement of the back-rest link 44. As the pin 66 arrives at the junction 640, as shown in FIG. 2, continued clockwise turning movement of the back-rest link 44 about its pivotal mount 46 is precluded and the carrier member 26 is free to turn about the carrier pivot 28 in that the second slot section 64b is on an are or radius about the carrier pivot 28.

Further constrainment means may be provided to insure the proper positioning of the sequencing means 60 and, therefore, the back-rest 22. Accordingly, in the chair 10 there is provided a constrainment slot 51 formed in an extension of the connecting link 50 which receives the stud 36. The stud 36 forms the pivotal connection to the seat 24 of the upper end of the front guide link 32. The slot 51 has a small forwardly and upwardly extending section 51a, a longer rearwardly and upwardly extending section 51b, and a junction 510. In the upright sitting position, the stud 36 is in the upper end of the slot section 51a. In the intermediate, tilted sitting position the stud 36 has moved relative to the slot 51 into the junction 51c such that it may travel into the longer section 5112 as the bodysupporting means is moved into the fully reclined position. The interengagement of the stud 36 and the slot 51 ellects 5 a further control on the connecting link 50 and the link 44 thereby to further control the position of the back-rest 22.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the reclining chain shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 constructed according to the present invention, a typical sequence of operations will now be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the body-supporting unit or means 22, 24 and urges his or her weight rearwardly, the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 translate rearwardly relative to the support 12, with the assembly of the seat and back-rest 24, 22 being guided during such rearward movement by the links 32, 38, 44 and S and their respective pivotal connections to the seat 24 and the back-rest 22. Due to the arrangement of these links, there is a movement of the body-supporting meansto an intermediate, tilted sitting position somewhat inclined relative to the horizontal. During such first movement phase, the sequencing pin 66 traverses the slot section 6411 moving towards the junction 64c thereby permitting turning movement of the back-rest guiding link 44 in the clockwise direction about its pivotal mount 46. When the front seat guiding link 32 abuts the stop 58, the intermediate, tilted sitting position is established, and thereafter the carrier member 26, the front and rear seat guiding links 32, 38 and the seat 24 become a unitary assembly which is adapted to turn about the carrier pivot 28 during the second movement phase. In this intermediate, tilted sitting position, the pin 36 is positioned at the lower end of slot 51b such that the pin 36 may move upwardly within the slot 511) during the second movement phase. The carrier member 26 may be lifted upwardly through an ascending are by the movement of the sequencing pin 66 into the slot section 64b which is of appropriate curvature to permit the turning movement of the carrier member 26 and to effectively block the back-rest guiding link 44 against further turning movement in a clockwise direction about its pivotal mount 46. Thereafter, and in response to continued pressure of the chair occupant against the body-supporting means, the carrier member 26 swings through its ascending arc to impart a further til-t or inclination to the seat 24 and the back-rest pivot 56 rearwardly in relation to the blocked back-rest guiding link 44. Accordingly, the constraining effect of the blocked back-rest guiding link 44 is eifective via the connecting link 50 to exert a pull at the pivot 54 on the back-rest 22 which swings the back-rest 22 rearwardly through a reclining movement relative to the seat 24 to increase the angle between the back-rest 22 and the seat 24. When the sequencing pin 66 engages the lower end of the slot section 64b, the second movement phase is ended and fully reclined position of FIG. 3 is established. This blocking action may be supplemented by one or more additional stops if required.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, ,and 6 which illustrate a second embocliment of the present invention, a reclining chair 110 is illustrated which in many respects is similar to the reclining chair illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 herein. The reclining chair 110 of FIGS. 4 through 6 incorporates parts which are similar to those found in the chair 10 whichparts have-been given numerical designations herein differing only that they are in the one hundred rather than ten series. Specifically, the chair 110 includes a support 112, mounted on legs 120 and including side arms 114, 116 which are joined together by the cross members 118. Y

The body-supporting means of the chair 110 includes the seat 122 and the back-rest 124 which are mounted upon the support 112 for movement from the upright sitting position of FIG. 4 through a first motion phase to the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 5 and subsequently through a second motion phase to the fully reclined position of FIG. 6.

A leg-rest may be provided on the chair 110, however, such is not illustrated here for purposes of simplicity and clarity of presentation. A large number of leg-rests of 6 different types may be employed which are mounted below the seat 122 and which may be raised to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to movement of the body-supporting means.

A carrier member 126 is pivotally secured to the support 112 at the pivot point 128 which is provided by the bracket 130. The carrier member 126 normally rests in a substantially horizontal position as supported by one of the cross members 118, but is movable through an upward arc about the pivot point 128 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6. The body-supporting means is mounted on the carrier member 126 by a seat guiding arrangement adapted to move the seat 122 relative to the carrier member during the first movement phase to impart a slight rearward tilt to the seat 122. These means include a front guiding link 132 secured at its lower end by the pivot 134 to the carrier member 126 and at its upper end to the pivot 136 on the seat 122. A rear guide link 138 is provided and is pivotally secured to the carrier member 126 at the pivot point 140, rearwardly of the pivot point 134, and at its upper end to the pivot 142 on the seat 122 which is rearwardly of the pivot 136. Each of the guide links 132, 138 are forwardly and upwardly inclined from their lower to their upper ends and are substantially parallel. It will be appreciated that the guide link 132, 138, in combination with the seat 122, form a four-bar linkage wherein the carrier member 126, between the pivots 134, serves as a stationary member and wherein the guide links 132, 138 and the seat 122 between the pivots 136, 138 serves as the movable links.

Back-rest guide means, including a back-rest guiding link 144 and a connecting link 150, is provided to control the angular relationship of the back-rest 124 to the seat 122. The back-rest guiding link 144 is provided at the forward end of the carrier member 126 and is pivotally secured thereto at the pivot 146 intermediate its ends.

At its upper end, the back-rest guiding link 144 is pivoted to the connecting link 150 by means of the pivot 152. The connecting link 150 is pivoted to the lower end of the back-rest 122 at pivot 154 which is spaced below the pivot 156 which forms the pivotal interconnection between the back-rest 124 and the seat 122. As may be best appreciated by comparison of FIG. 4 with FIG. 5, as the seat guiding links 132, 138 combine to guide the seat 122 during the first movement phase from the upright sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position, the back-rest guiding link 144 pivots about the point 146 controlling the movement of the connecting link 150 thereby to maintain the back-rest 124 in substantially a constant angular relationship with the seat 122. The slot 151, consisting of the slot sections 151a and 151b and the junction 151a formed in the link 150 receive the stud 136 extending from the upper pivot of the front guide link 132 to provide further constraining means for the back-rest guide link 144 and the connecting link 150 to control the position of the back-rest 124. As may be seen, a block 158 is provided on the carrier member 126 immediately to the rear of the pivot 140 to block the seat guiding means when the intermediate, tilted sitting position has been reached. Of course, blocking means other than the specific means shown may be utilized for this purpose.

Sequencing means, generally designated by the numeral 160 are provided to permit the back-rest guiding link 144 to turn about its pivot connection 146 during the first movement phase and at the same time to prevent pivotal motion of the carrier member 126 about its pivot 128 dur ing that first movement phase. The sequencing means 160 similarly permits, during the second movement phase, the pivotal motion of the carrier member 126 and prevents pivotal motion of the back-rest guiding link 144. The sequencing means 160 includes a plate 162 which is secured by a conventional means to the support 112 at the respective arms 144, 116. The plate 162 is provided with a slot 164 which includes a first arcuate portion 164a which describes an arc about the pivot 146 when the carrier member 126 is in its lowered position, and a second arcuate portion 16% which describes an arcuate path about the pivot point 128. The portion of the back-rest guiding link 144 which extends downwardy from the pivot point 146 is provided with a pin 166 which is received within the first arcuate portion 164a of the slot 164. It will be seen by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5 that the rearward end of the arcuate slot 164a is effective to prevent the rearward tilting of the back-rest 124 when the chair 110 is in its upright sitting position. It will be further appreciated that the slot 164a is effective to lock the carrier member 126 in its downward position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, until the body-supporting means has been placed in its intermediate, tilted sitting position wherein the pin 166 on the lower portion of the back-rest link 144 has been moved from the rear end of the arcuate slot 164a to the forward end thereof in line with the second arcuate slot 16412. This position is achieved as a result of the movement of the seat 122 with respect to the carrier member 126 which effectively transports the back-rest pivot 156 rearwardly and swings the back-rest guiding link 144 in a clockwise rotation about its pivot point 146 thereby to move the pin 166 forwardly into the position shown in FIG. 5. At this position, the stud 136 is located at the junction 1510 of the slot 151.

The sequencing means permits the chair 110 to be moved into its fully reclined position only after the intermediate, tilted sitting position has been achieved by relative motion of the pin 166 upwardly along the length of the slot 16412. As may be appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 5 and 6, the development of the slot 164]; is such that the back-rest guiding link 144 substantially maintains its angular orientation with respect to the support 112 as the carrier member pivots upwardly about its pivot point ,128. As the carrier member 128 pivots about the point 128, the seat 122 and the back-rest pivot 156 also rotate about that point. However, the back-rest guiding link 144, through the connecting link 150, prevents or retards rearward movement of the pivot 154 at the bottom of the back-rest 124 thus causing clockwise rotation of the backrest to increase the angle between the seat 122 and the back-rest 124 such that the body-supporting unit of the chair 110 assumes a more fully reclined position as it is moved through its second movement phase.

In order to impart a more complete understanding of this second embodiment which incorporates features of the present invention, a typical sequence of operations will now be described:

With the occupant seated in the chair in its upright sitting position as shown in FIG. 4, the chair may be.

moved through its first movement phase into the intermediate, tilted sitting position by the occupant .moving his weight rearwardly to push the seat 122 and back-rest 124 rearwardly and pivot the seat about the guiding links 132, 138. At the same time, the connecting link 150 secured to the back-rest 124 will be moved rearwardly thus pivoting the back-rest guiding link 144 in a clockwise direction such that the moving elements achieve the position shown in FIG. 5. Movement is blocked by means of a stop, such as stop 158, to prevent further relative movement between the seat 122 and the carrier member 126. During the first movement phase, the carrier member 126 is prevented from rotating about its pivot 128 by means of the interengagement of the pin 166 of the back-rest guiding link 144 within the arcuate slot 164a. During this first movement phase the position of the guiding link 144 is further controlled by the stud 136 and slot 151 on the link 150 to control the inclination of the back-rest 124 with respect to the seat 122.

Further rearward movement of the occupant is effective to move the body-supporting unit 122, 124 from the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 5 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 6. As the occupants weight is shifted, the blocked assembly of the seat 122, the seat guide links 132, 138 and the carrier member 126 will be tilted upwardly and rearwardly about the carriermember pivot 128. During this tilting movement, the relative motion of the back-rest guiding link 144 with respect to this block assembly will begoverned by the path prescribed by the slot 164!) within the plate 162. As shown, during the second movement phase, the back-rest guiding link 144 is moved in a counterclockwise rotation about the pivot point 146 as the pivot point 146 is raised thereby pulling the connecting link forwardly and thereby progressively increasing the angle of inclination of the back-rest 124 with respect to the seat 122 until the pin 166 and the back-rest guiding link 144 is engaged against the upper end of the slot 164b which is effective to block the complete unit against any further rearward tilting movement.

Movement from the fully reclined position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position and then to the upright sitting position is accomplished through similar operations. The occupant first shifts his weight forwardly to pivot the carrier member 126 downwardly during which motion the pin 166 travels down the length of the slot 16412 into contact with the slot 164a wherein the chair has returned to the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 5. The occupant then moves the seat 122 forwardly which is effective to pivot the seat guiding links 132, 138 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to their position illustrated in FIG. 4 thus returning the seat to its upright sitting position. At the same time the back-rest is moved forwardly with the seat and the back-rest guiding link 144 is pivoted about its pivotal mount 146 on the carrier member 126 such that the pin 166 is moved rearwardly within the slot 164a and engages the rearward end thereof to block the relative movement of the back-rest 124 with respect to the seat 122.

It will be appreciated that there is provided in accordance with the present invention, and illustrated in each of the above described embodiments, a reclining chair of the recliner type having two movement phases wherein the angle between the seat and back-rest of the chair is maintained substantially constant during the first movement phase and is increased during the second movement phase. The linkage which provides this motion is constructed such that the guide means for the seat and back-rest move during the first movement phase to guide the movement of the seat and back-rest to the intermediate, tilted sitting position while the carrier means remains substantially stationary. During the second movement phase, the carrier means is tilted for movement into the fully reclined position while the seat and back-rest guiding means remain substantially stationary with the reaction force from the back-rest guiding means increasing the angle between the back-rest and the seat in response to the movement of the body-supporting unit into the fully reclined position.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during a first movement phase and from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during a second movement phase, a carrier member movably mounted on said support member, seat guiding means mounted on said carrier member and operatively connected to said seat, a back-rest pivot mounting said back-rest on said seat, back-rest guiding means including a back-rest guiding link movably mounted on said support, said back-rest guiding means including a connecting link operatively connecting said back-rest guiding link to said back-rest, said seat guiding means and said back-rest guiding means moving relative to said carrier member during said first movement phase for guiding said body-supporting means to said intermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no change in the angle between the seat and back-rest, and means blocking said seat guiding means from movement with respect to said carrier member at the end of said first movement phase, and lost motion sequencing means interconnected between said back-rest guiding means and said carrier for blocking movement of said carrier member relative to said support during said first movement phase, said lost motion means being eflective to permit movement of said carrier member and to prevent rearward movement of said back-rest guiding means during said second movement phase such that the angular relationship between said seat and back-rest is changed during said second movement phase.

2. A reclining chair comprising a support member, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support member for inclining and reclining movement respectively from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during a first movement phase and from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during a second movement phase, a carrier member pivotally mounted on said support member, seat guiding means mounted on said carrier member and operatively connected to said seat for guiding said seat through the first movement phase, means blocking said seat guiding means from movement with respect to said carrier member at the end of said first movement phase, a back-rest pivot mounting said back-rest on said seat, back-rest guiding means including a back-rest guiding link movably mounted on one of said members, said back-rest guiding means further including a connecting link operatively engaged between said back-rest guiding link and said back-rest, said seat guiding means and said back-rest guiding means moving relative to said carrier member during said first movement phase for guiding said body-supporting means to said intermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no change in the angle between the seat and backrest, and lost motion sequencing means interconnected between said back-rest guiding means and the other of said members for allowing inotion of said back-rest guiding means with respect to said carrier member and for blocking movement of said carrier member relative to said support during said first movement phase, said lost motion means including a double-arced slot formed in the other of said members and a pin rigidly carried by one of the links of said back-rest guiding means and engaged in the first arc of said double-arced slot during the first movement phase and in the second arc of said double-arced slot during the second movement phase, said slot motion means being eifective to permit move ment of said carrier member and to prevent rearward movement of said back-rest guidng means with respect to said carrier member during said second movement phase such that the angular relationship between said seat and back-rest is changed during said second movement phase.

3. A reclining chair comprising a support member, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support member for inclining and reclining movement respectively from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during a first movement phase and from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during a second movement phase, a carrier member pivotally mounted on said support member, seat guiding means mounted on said carrier member and operatively connected to said seat for guiding said seat through the first movement phase, means blocking said seat guiding means from movement with respect to said carrier member at the end of said first movement phase, a back-rest pivot mounting said back-rest on said seat, back-rest guiding means including a back-rest guiding link movably mounted on one of said members, said back-rest guiding means further including a connecting link operatively engaged between said back-rest guiding link and said back-rest, said seat guiding means and said back-rest guiding means moving relative to said carrier member during said first movement phase for guiding said body-supporting means to said intermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no change in the angle between the seat and backrest, lost motion sequencing means interconnected between said back-rest guiding means and the other of said members for allowing motion of said back-rest guiding means with respect to said carrier member and for blocking movement of said carrier member relative to said support during said first movement phase, said lost motion means including a double-arced slot formed in the other of said members and a pin rigidly carried by one of the links of said back-rest guiding means and engaged in the first arc of said double-arced slot during the first movement phase and in the second arc of said doublearced slot during the second movement phase, said lost motion means being effective to permit movement of said carrier member and to prevent rearward movement of said back-rest guiding means with respect to said carrier member during said second movement phase such that the angular relationship between said seat and back-rest is changed during said second movement phase, and constrainment means in association with said connecting link and said seat for cont-rolling the position of said back-rest in said sitting position and said intermediate tilted position.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during a first movement phase and from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during a second movement phase, a carrier member, means pivotally mounting said carrier member on said support at a carrier pivot for turning movement through an ascending arc, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a front pivotal connection, a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at .a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a rear. pivotal connection, means pivotally mounting said back-rest on said seat at a back-rest pivot, a back-rest guiding link, means pivotally mounting said back-rest guiding link on said support at a further pivotal mount, a connecting link pivotally interconnecting said back-rest guiding link and said back-rest at a point spaced from said back-rest pivot, said front and rear seat guiding links cooperating with said back-rest guiding link during said first movement phase to guide said body-supporting means to said intermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no angular change between said seat and back-rest, means for blocking move-ment of at least one of said seat guiding links relative to said carrier member in said intermediate tilted sitting position, and sequencing means interconnected between said back-rest guiding link and said carrier member and including first means for blocking turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot during said first movement phase and for permitting turning movement of said back-rest guiding link about said further pivotal mount, said sequencing means further including second means permitting turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot during said second movement phase and substantially blocking turning movement of said back-rest guiding link about said further pivotal mount during said second movement phase such that the blocking of said back-rest guiding link and the turning of said carrier member is eifective to increase the angular relationship between said seat and back-rest during said second move- -ment phase.

5. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest adapted to be mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during a first movement phase and from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during a second movement phase, a carrier member, means pivotally mounting said carrier member on said support at a carrier pivot for turning movement through an ascending arc, a front seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a front pivotal connection, a rear seat guiding link pivotally mounted on said carrier member at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a rear pivotal connection, means pivotally mounting said back-rest on said seat at a back-rest pivot, a back-rest guiding link, means pivotally mounting said back-rest guiding link on said support at a further pivotal mount, a connecting link pivotally interconnecting said back-rest guiding link and said back-rest at a point spaced from said back-rest pivot, said front and rear seat guiding links cooperating with said backrest guiding link during said first movement phase to guide said body-supporting means to said intermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no angular change between said seat and back-rest, means for blocking movement of at least one. of said seat guiding links relative to said carrier member in said intermediate tilted sitting position, and sequencing means interconnected between said back-rest guiding link and said carrier member and including a pin on said back-rest guiding link and a slot in said carrier member formed on a radius about said further pivotal mount for blocking turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot during said first movement phase and for permitting turning movement of said back-rest guiding link about said further pivotal mount, said sequencing means further including a further slot in said carrier link formed on a radius about said carrier pivot and interconnected with said first-mentioned slot permitting turning movement of said carrier member about said carrier pivot during said second movement phase and substantially blocking turning movement of said back-rest guiding link about said further pivotal mount during said second movement phase such that the blocking of said back-rest guiding link and the turning of said carrier member is effective to increase the angular relationship between said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,05 9,968 10/ 62 Schliephacke 2973 22 3,059,969 10/62 Schliephacke 297322 3,065,026 11/62 Schliephacke 297-322 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A SEAT AND BACK-REST ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR INCLINING AND RECLINING MOVEMENT RESPECTIVELY FROM A SITTING POSITION TO AN INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION DURING A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE AND FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION TO A RECLINING POSITION DURING A SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE, A CARRIER MEMBER MOVABLE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SEAT GUIDING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIER MEMBER AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SEAT, A BACK-REST PIVOT MOUNTING SAID BACK-REST ON SAID SEAT, BACK-REST GUIDING MEANS INCLUDING A BACK-REST GUIDING LINK MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, SAID BACK-REST GUIDING MEANS INCLUDING A CONNECTING LINK OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID BACK-REST GUIDING LINK TO SAID BACK-REST, SAID SEAT GUIDING MEANS AND SAID BACK-REST GUIDING MEANS MOVING RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIER MEMBER DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE FOR GUIDING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS TO SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION WITH SUBSTANTIALLY NO CHANGE IN THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE SEAT AND BACK-REST, AND MEANS BLOCKING SAID SEAT GUIDING MEANS FROM MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID CARRIER MEMBER AT THE END OF SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, AND LOST MOTION SEQUENCING MEANS INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID BACK-REST GUIDING MEANS AND SAID CARRIER FOR BLOCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, SAID LOST MOTION MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER AND TO PREVENT REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BACK-REST GUIDING MEANS DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE SUCH THAT THE ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST IS CHANGED DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE. 